THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS
FROM THE SUNSHINE CLOWN TROUPE!
A really BIG VISIT
In More Ways than one
When the Ruby, Liza Palooza and Stretch paid a visit to Jesken Aerie it marked a return to the fun of spending time with an audience in A Really Big Visit - which, not-so-coincidently, turns out to be the name of the experience the clowns will be offering to seniors facilities throughout Greater Victoria.
Getting to know our new friends is the most fun of all!
But Playing with Balloons is a lot of fun too!
Back Where We Belong!
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With modified caution and a healthy dose of celebration
Holliday and Moore returned to
their Traveling Life at Amica on the Gorge!
Holliday and Moore returned to
their Traveling Life at Amica on the Gorge!
The Sunshine Clowns were enthusiastic participants at this year's virtual conference for the North American Federation of Healthcare Clowning Organizations. It was encouraging to be in contact with so many people - over 100! - doing our same kind of work/play all across Canada and the States!
COVID BUSTERS
The COVID restrictions fell on us all this spring and the Sunshine Clowns got legislated out of seniors' residences (How is clowning not an essential service in these soul-wrenching times?) and off of local stages. There was only one place left for us to go - into the parks of Victoria . . . at a responsible distance!
So here is our tribute to and celebration of Dr. Bonnie Henry for her diligent and relentless work to keep the citizens of British Columbia healthy and safe.
So here is our tribute to and celebration of Dr. Bonnie Henry for her diligent and relentless work to keep the citizens of British Columbia healthy and safe.
Inspired Cover Story
In May of 2017 The Sunshine Clowns were the cover story for
INSPIRED Senior Living Magazine
which is seen by over 150,000 people each month throughout BC.
Click the button to view the article.
INSPIRED Senior Living Magazine
which is seen by over 150,000 people each month throughout BC.
Click the button to view the article.
In celebration of our 9th birthday we attended a performance in Vancouver of ANYTHING by Mump and Smoot. In addition to being totally inspiring it felt like a family affair: A couple of months earlier Holliday and Moore had performed at a residence in Victoria where, at the end of the show, a nattily attired gentleman identified himself as Mump's father. (Our boys were unabashedly demonstrative in their fawning adoration! Shoes were kissed!) Then, during the performance of their show, Mump chose Scott's daughter Emily to come on stage as a participant. Later in the lobby, to everyone's delight, the Full Circle was revealed!
The Sunshine clowns are going to the hospital !
Child Life Specialist Diane, Paul (aka Doc Willikers) and Ann (aka Mimsy)
Tour the Pediatric Unit
Tour the Pediatric Unit
Paul Hooson, who started pediatric clowning at Vancouver's Sick Kids Hospital
over 20 years ago, came to town to help us get our program off on the right foot
. . . or did he say "left"?
over 20 years ago, came to town to help us get our program off on the right foot
. . . or did he say "left"?
holliday and Moore
take the $2 suitcase on the road
With more than 45 performances to their credit
Holliday and Moore took their second show, The $2 Dollar Suitcase, far and wide.
Holliday and Moore took their second show, The $2 Dollar Suitcase, far and wide.
5 Minute Ukulele Lessons
at the Fernwood Market
Mimsy, Cahoots and Stretch were on hand at a recent Fernwood Community Market to offer ukulele lessons to eager passers-by. In less than 5 minutes everyone was strumming and singing the haunting strains of "My Darling Clementine". Not only were they rewarded by opening a new door to creativity and joy but they also got this cool sticker:
Special thanks to Paul at Larsen Music for the loan of enough ukes to get everybody strumming!
HeroWork
No party without us! So, of course, we were part of the HeroWork Celebration last week. To learn more about this amazing community project to help youth at risk go to http://www.herowork.com/
The Sunshine Clowns on tour
We had a lot of fun visiting Gabriola Island, and performing our newly edited Tea Time Show.
Please, sit back and enjoy the (slide) show...!
Please, sit back and enjoy the (slide) show...!
Wow!!
Hattie had her first care clown visit at Beacon Hill Villa! What an extra special day! Here you can see her hanging out with her clown partner Stretch after the visit...
Aren`t they adorable?!
Pain meds can stay in the drawer...
... when the clowns come to visit.
In this case, it was a visit to Rebecca's dad upon the occasion of getting a new knee! Stretch and Ruby stopped by to sing and get some fashion advice and ensure that Ramzi's new knee had a complimentary new nose. Also got to clown around with Rebecca's nephew. Our new clown friend Dough-B proclaimed that pain meds were no longer needed as the clowns waved good-bye!! :)
In this case, it was a visit to Rebecca's dad upon the occasion of getting a new knee! Stretch and Ruby stopped by to sing and get some fashion advice and ensure that Ramzi's new knee had a complimentary new nose. Also got to clown around with Rebecca's nephew. Our new clown friend Dough-B proclaimed that pain meds were no longer needed as the clowns waved good-bye!! :)
Ready to Play
Almost all of our new clowns have now completed their observation shifts. As a next step they will be clowning side by side with one of our senior clowns. This week, Cahoots was very excited to have her first visit as a care clown. She and Stretch had such a great time!
Cahoots and Stretch at Beacon Hill Villa
Happy 10th Anniversary to.... us!!!
Jim Ricks, Amanda Ricks, Scott Smith and Gord Wolfe in 2008
The Sunshine Clowns celebrated the 10th year of being a troupe this May. This picture was taken at the first show we ever did. It was for a volunteer group at the Victoria General Hospital.
In Jest Festival of Clown and Play
We were very excited to have been part of this year`s IN JEST Festival in Vancouver!
Amanda facilitated a Care Clown Workshop on May 3rd, and the following day, Jim and Scott gave a performance of their show DANCING WITH FISH.
Clowns on tour.... We love it!!!
Amanda facilitated a Care Clown Workshop on May 3rd, and the following day, Jim and Scott gave a performance of their show DANCING WITH FISH.
Clowns on tour.... We love it!!!
The World Premiere of DANCING WITH FISH on April 26, 2014 at the New Horizons Theater in Victoria was a great success! - A full house, a standing ovation, smiles & laughter... How does it get any better?!?
Many thanks to the audience and to everyone who has been supporting this unique production!
Many thanks to the audience and to everyone who has been supporting this unique production!
click here to see the whole show
at the Victoria Fringe Fest!
Care Clown Workshop 2014
Graduating Class
What a great group - fun-filled and ready to play!
What a great group - fun-filled and ready to play!
Shown above are our graduating students Ann, Bettina, Derek, Elinor, Janice, Suki, Emma, Maya.
Aren't they great?!
Aren't they great?!
Back to school for the clowns!
Goldi & Stretch at UVic 2014
... well, almost!
We were invited on March 11th to present our care clown work to a class of graduate students interested in research on performance arts in the context of helping. Following a brief history of clowning and care / therapeutic clowning in particular, we brought in the clowns to meet the students, and do a role play of a typical visit to an elder in a care facility. We also gave out hugs and stickers ("I Hugged a Clown Today") and sang a few songs. To round up the visit, there was a Q & A with Amanda, Rebecca, Jim and Scott.
Below you can view a slide show of that day.
We were invited on March 11th to present our care clown work to a class of graduate students interested in research on performance arts in the context of helping. Following a brief history of clowning and care / therapeutic clowning in particular, we brought in the clowns to meet the students, and do a role play of a typical visit to an elder in a care facility. We also gave out hugs and stickers ("I Hugged a Clown Today") and sang a few songs. To round up the visit, there was a Q & A with Amanda, Rebecca, Jim and Scott.
Below you can view a slide show of that day.
A sparkling meeting
In February The Sunshine Clowns visited the Federation of Community Social Services of BC during a coffee break at their spring General Meeting in Victoria. The picture shows one of the attendees, Liz Wood from Sea to Sky Community Services. Liz said the clowns were "...a lovely interruption to the "work" of the Fed meeting".
Bungle, of course, is never too shy to ask for his favourite thing - a back scratch; which Anne Nikon delivers beautifully as you can see below (please click on pictures to enlarge).
Bungle, of course, is never too shy to ask for his favourite thing - a back scratch; which Anne Nikon delivers beautifully as you can see below (please click on pictures to enlarge).
Et voilà!
Jim shows off our new stage screen, which provides a back drop, a back stage for changes or getting props, and a place for pigeons to roost. This will replace our big wooden screens which were a chore to haul around.
This one folds up into a neat carrying bag!
Up and coming:
DANCING WITH FISH, a brand new show with HOLLIDAY & MOORE (Scott and Jim)
Dancing with Fish represents a big departure from the types of performances Scott and Jim have done the past few years. To begin with, they have dropped the traditional red nose as well as their "clown" names (Bungle and Stretch). The show is the story of two men (Holliday and Moore) who meet by chance and develop a strong friendship around the playing of rather silly games. The purpose of the games is always to simply play them out. One day, Moore decides he's lost enough times, and he changes the rules in order to win...
Dancing with Fish has many elements of classic clown logic as well as surreal images. Reality in the clown world is pliable and therefore, full of surprises. The show is based a lot on how Scott and Jim see themselves in their personal friendship and the issues that arise as a result of their own characters.
The show is also characterized by a strong element of soundscape, comprised of music and sound to stimulate the audience's imagination. For the first time, a clown show has required a sound board operator to key the sound keys when needed. Another feature of this show is the acquiring of a choreographer, since there is much physical movement and some dancing involved.
Holliday and Moore doing their "subway dance" over the strong beat of "Rescue Me!"
Care Clown Workshop 2013
In the month of February, 2013 we ran a two-weekend course in clowning with a focus on Care Clowning. Here's our proud graduating class of seven. Shown in this picture are (Front row l-R) Rebecca Ataya - Clown trainer, Rosemary, Amanda Gafter-Ricks - Clown trainer, Anneke, and Leona. Back row (L-R), JoAnne, Jim Ricks - Clown, Karim, Trish, and Adrienne.
